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TSN Basketball Analyst

Archive

1. RAPTORS HUNGER AND URGENCY: I think back to the embarrassment of the 21-point home loss to Oklahoma City on March 16 and all of the drama surrounding the post-game meetings. Something changed for the truly positive for the Raptors from that point. Over the next six games, the team played hard and looked extremely hungry. In my opinion, that was their best stretch of the regular season. The Milwaukee Bucks looked like that hungry, tough, focused and urgent team in Game 1. The habit of falling behind is a dangerous trait in the playoffs, even if the fight to keep coming back shows tremendous character. The Raptors just need consistency. I don't know how a team that wants to win the 12 games you need to reach the NBA Finals allows that kind of performance to happen. I like and respect the Bucks a lot. They're a good team that can definitely beat the Raptors in this series. If you're going to lose, at least give your opponent everything you've got and let the chips fall where they may.

2. TORONTO’S OFFENCE: The eight winning teams this weekend scored an average of 109.1 points. The Raptors only managed 83 against Milwaukee. Full credit goes to Jason Kidd's team defence. The Raptors have their hands full with this opponent. When you get into postseason competition you need great team offensive toughness against a stifling, physical and athletic defence. You also must improve every aspect of execution and have guys who convert shots. Dwane Casey will have to consider playing Patrick Patterson more, along with pondering using Norman Powell and Delon Wright at times. Kyle Lowry had a difficult Game 1, but I understand that. There’s a whole different level of conditioning required for a playoff game and he's clearly not there yet. He'll figure it out. My bigger issue is that, in a league where scoring is way up consistently, you can't keep getting outplayed and outscored in the first and third quarters. In this league, you have to think long and hard about the overall benefit of playing a starting small forward in DeMarre Carroll who gives you five points in 24 minutes. The guy is that spot needs to give you outstanding defensive effort, but he also must provide significant scoring pop. I respect and admire Carroll's effort and team play. He plays the game the right way and is a good teammate. This is nothing personal. It's about productivity. I think you need to look at surrounding Lowry and DeMar DeRozan with three other pieces the opposing defence has to respect and guard to open up space. Firepower is vital at every spot this time of year. The Raptors can't keep playing from behind.

3. ROBIN LOPEZ AND BOBBY PORTIS (Bulls): The Chicago duo combined for 33 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1 against the Celtics. They were terrific with their energy and rebounding prowess. Boston’s bigs were slow and far from physical with them and got dominated. Their nose for the ball and compete level were off the charts. Boston had better find a way to match or exceed that effort in Game 2 and beyond or they could be in trouble.

4. JOE JOHNSON (Jazz): You gotta love the old guy. Utah centre Rudy Gobert unfortunately went out early with a knee injury, so the Jazz were forced to play smaller. That allowed Johnson to go to work in the post and with his mid-range game. He ended up with 21 points, three rebounds and three assists in a huge victory on the road against the Clippers. He's still a crafty and intelligent offensive weapon. He delivered when the Jazz needed big plays. Johnson still has it.

5 JOHN WALL (Wizards): With so much attention focused on other point guards like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Steph Curry and Damian Lillard, we sometimes miss his utter brilliance. He was downright remarkable Sunday against the Hawks, scoring 32 points and adding 14 assists. He is fast, creative and scary good. His backcourt mate, Bradley Beal, was sound as well with 22 points in the game. What a guard duo the Wizards have. They are really tough to stop.